Gerrymandering is the ANC’s way of ‘cheating to get the DA out’

When the ANC sees something that works, the ruling party may move heaven and earth to break it.

That’s how the Democratic Alliance (DA) feels now that it stands to lose control over one of the most successful municipalities in South Africa. That is, if the Municipal Demarcation Board, under oversight from its political masters, has its way.

The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands municipality of uMngeni, led by DA mayor Chris Pappas, may be amalgamated with two other councils in the area: Impendle and Mpofana, or Mooi River. The board invited written proposals and submissions from the public on several proposed municipal boundaries around SA.

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Pappas was elected mayor after the DA won the uMngeni municipality for the first time in the November 2021 elections. Howick is the municipality’s main town. If the proposal is successful, the DA will be robbed of an exemplary and highly functional municipality.

Pappas, a handson mayor, has invested significant effort in managing and improving the area. Under his leadership, several projects have cleaned up towns like Howick and significantly improved service delivery. His personal social media and acclaim from all corners of the country evidences his successes.

ANC accused of gerrymandering

DA federal chair Helen Zille said the party will not entertain the proposal, accusing the ANC of gerrymandering and a blatant abuse of power.

She said: “The ANC is terrified of the DA’s success in uMngeni because it is showing how the DA governs in comparison with the ANC.

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“They must prevent that perception taking hold at all costs and are therefore looking for ways to redraw the town’s boundaries to include more voters who are likely to vote ANC.

“This is generally known as gerrymandering and is a serious abuse of power.”

The DA will oppose the proposed demarcation changes on a provincial and national level. Pappas said the uMngeni council took a decision to oppose the mooted amalgamation.

“The uMngeni municipal council has taken a decision to oppose all class 2 changes, which include the amalgamation of the Impendle, Mpofana and uMngeni municipalities. as well as the creation of a metropolitan municipality. There is no rational argument for collapsing the municipalities into one,” he said.

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The ANC secretary of the Moses Mabhida region, into which all three municipalities fall, said the proposed amalgamation will improve service delivery and insinuated presently none of the municipalities were financially viable on their own.

The ANC denied the proposed redraw of boundaries has anything to do with political motive.

Umngeni’s finance ‘healthy’

Pappas disagreed. He pointed out that Mpofana is a severely distressed municipality and Impendle is not financially viable.

He said: “This move would further compromise service delivery, economic growth and stability in the region.”

uMngeni’s finances are stable and healthy, “however, the municipality is grant-dependent and is barely able to deliver on its functions due to the scale of the demands placed on it”.

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“Any changes will totally collapse any ability to deliver services in all three municipalities. Meaningful interventions by the national government will only come when the funding models for municipalities are looked at more seriously.”

Wearing his other hat as the DA’s provincial spokesperson, Pappas said: “The DA will take all necessary steps to oppose the irrational and politically motivated proposals. The ANC through its structures and positions in government are trying to gerrymander the DA out of government.

“The ANC knows that the only way to get the DA out is to cheat.”